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Title : Automated (Machine) Halaal Slaughtering - Imam Qamrul Khanson

: Admin | : 2020-02-15


Introduction:

By the passage of time, the human population from Adam and Eve (PBUT) evolved into 7.7 billion people today out of which 25.10 % are Muslims as per the Pew Research Center in 2015. By the increase of Muslim population, the need of Muslims food requirements also multiplied manifold and so the modalities of processing and production with strict Halaal credentials. Government of Canada in 2014, passed a bill by which labelling of Halaal was made legal only through a Halaal certifier. I am Food Specialist by profession and by being a vigilant Muslim, it was a good opportunity to work for audit and authentication of Halaal Food Production chain in Canada. Some of us often ask question with reference to the Machine Halaal Slaughtering (Automated Halaal Slaughtering) with specifics to the chickens in Canada. It is important to know and learn that a person like me and many others who are responsible for the Halaal Certification do it only by remaining within the Islamic Jurisprudence. That is within The-Quran and Ahadith Sahih. So none of us should listen to the rumors and it is the duty of Muslims like me and you to ascertain the truth. With all seven principles of Halaal implemented by us according to The-Qur’an and Ahadith Mohammad (PBUH), there is no difference between Muslim-person operated Machine Halaal Slaughtering and Hand-held knife slaughtering with Tasmiah Takbeer by live Muslims reciting in continuation without fail.

The – Qur'an:

 

"Therefore eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has been pronounced if you are believers in His communications. And what reason have you that you should not eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has been mentioned, and He has already made plain to you what He has forbidden to you excepting what you are compelled to; and most surely many would lead (people) astray by their low desires out of ignorance; surely your Lord (Almighty Alloh) best knows those who exceed the limits.'

'And do not eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has not been mentioned, and that is most surely a transgression; and most surely the Shayateen (Satan (s)) suggest to their friends that they should contend with you; and if you obey them, you shall most surely be polytheists" {The Qur'an – Surah Al An'aam (Chapter: The Cattle) 06: 118 119, 121}.

Points to be noted in Halaal Machine Slaughtering: The seven steps and principles would not allow any Haraam in the slaughtering process of Maple Lodge Zabiha Halal brand. The steps we follow in Zabiha Halal Production are as follows:

Step: 01 - The poultry must be alive at the time of slaughter and for the purpose a special arrangement / process must be in application to cull the birds which are Dead on Arrival (DOA). The very first important aspect of Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) is to absolutely assure that all the chickens received in the receiving dock for the purpose of Halaal Slaughtering shall be alive, healthy, and free from diseases and without injuries of any kind in order to make it eligible for the Halaal food.

Step: 02 - The stunning of the poultry after the DOA cull-out is needed as per the recommendation of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). CFIA has a special program for us Canadians Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) which came into force on January 15, 2019.  The CHFCA protocol requires that the Zabeeha birds could be stunned with minimum acceptable range permitted by CFIA to remove sensitivity so that the live birds are slaughtered without pain. In the automation, a rotary blade Halaal Slaughtering with eligible Muslims standing to recite Tasmiah Takbeer so that the birds are slaughtered while clinically alive with heart beats still pumping the blood.

Step: 03 – Observing chickens for the heartbeat is the 2nd most important aspects of Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) by which personnel trained and appointed to check the viable heartbeat through the beat/stiffness/temperature, are attentive and shall be quick to cull out the chickens without any sign of life as non-edible for the human food and non-acceptable for further processing as Halaal.

Step: 04 - The Zabeeha birds before and during the Halaal Slaughtering, shall be recited upon with the Islamic phrase of Bismillahi Allohu Akbar. For the purpose, Muslim persons are physically present continually as Muslim Blessers and Slaughterers stationed to slaughter the birds on each line of the slaughtering process. The birds shall be slaughtered by the use of a sharp rotary knife automated in the conveying line followed by the hand held sharp knife for the emergency cut where the automated knife fails to do the job. Offering blessings before and during the Halaal-slaughtering of Zabeeha Chickens is the 3rd most important aspect of Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) after making the assurance that the chicken is alive after stunning. The recitation of Tasmiah (Islamic Phrase – In the name of God – God is The-Greatest) signifies the basic Halaal process meeting the essential component of Islamic Jurisprudence in the Machine Halaal Slaughtering Process.

It is continually supervised so that the incision of neck is from the front side where oesophageal, carotid, pulmonary and jugular channels are severed at once properly meeting the Halaal conditions and absolutely compatible with the Islamic jurisprudence.

Step: 05 – The essential part of the process is to incise manually where needed, exactly on the same spot and observe for the profuse bleeding from the bird. The head of the animal must not be cut off during slaughtering but later after the animal is completely dead, even the knife should not go deep into the spinal cord. This is an important Humane as well as Halaal authentication directive in the process of Halaal slaughtering which is the 4th important Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP). If the slaughtered bird does not show bleeding except few drops, it shall be culled as Non-Halaal. A strict monitoring and supervision on the ground is absolutely there to meet the Halaal validity.  No live bird shall be allowed to the scalding water chamber where the removal of feather commences. The first four HHCCP would assure that such a fault never happens and this shall be the 5th important Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Step: 06 – During the process of evisceration, none of the diseased Caracas shall ever be allowed to the food chain of the consumers.  The Audit and Inspection under the supervision of CFIA which CHFCA supports wholeheartedly would keep this stage as a 6th important Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Step: 07 - The final product destined to the clients and consumers shall be critically labelled that no raw chicken or portions of it are safe to consume unless processed through the application of heat or an alternative process recognized as safe for the human consumption.

The final products shall be monitored for meeting the Physical, Chemical and Microbiological limits as documented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This would meet CHFCA requirements of Halaal and Tayyib (granted in Islamic Jurisprudence as fit for human consumption).  Any Automated Halaal Slaughtering Plant shall meet all these seven steps and the seven HHCCP’s in meeting the Halaal requirements. This shall be the 7th important Haraam Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).